CompuServe Thread

Hi Jonas, Here's my R4 Wishlist… ———– Modeling/Lighting * It would be a very powerful feature if one could define a light 'Style', and then instance this style throughout the model. For example, the style would indicate the color, intensity, range extent relative to its center, and exclusion status for the light. Instances of this light could then be redefined by changing only the style def. I often use _many_ lights in complex scenes. It is quite tedious to go through them one by one and adjust them. * Another new feature I would like to see is if 3ds could reference other 3ds files to build up larger scenes. If any changes were made to the referenced files, they would be reflected in the larger scene each time it was loaded. Not Merge/Replace Mesh. * Improve the Tag wild card specifications. Allow the full pattern matching similar to 'grep' or AutoCAD layer specifications, i.e. wild cards using []~#A-Xa-z and the like. For example, currently I create all my main morph objects without postfix numbers and all morph targets with the same name but followed by 01, 02, … If I try to hide all morph objects with a tag of *0? for example, this hides _everything_. This enhancement will take this feature from "great concept/lacking implementation" to an extremely powerful tool. * Box mode on a per viewport basis. Box mode on a per object basis. Fastview is great. This would be similar but even faster, while still allowing some key objects ot retain their normal appearance. Not 'Liquid Speed' – 'Ice Cube' speed. * Saved, named views settings (beyond [ & {) – saved in the 3ds or prj file. Also a temporary stack of previous views, so one can zoom in a couple of times, then zoom 'previous' back out. * Saved, named viewport configurations. * Saved, named object display hide/unhide/freeze states. By Color hiding is not really adequate as it precludes objects in multiple sets. * The new function key assignments are great. Now allow redef of the entire keyboard. Add a function for 'Restore Default Keys', so any user could override to easily get back to the default standards. * 3dsLisp or 3dsPoco or … any interpreted command macro facility. * Keyboard Support!!!: Allow specification of decimal places – everywhere! Like when scaling objects. Allow arbitrary denominators in fractions (not just the ones setup in Units Settings). Display fractions as (for example: 5'2-1/2"). I'm tired of using a feather/body english/telepathy trying to nudge the mouse to get to a specific value. Frankly, considering how overall amazing an achievement 3ds is, I just cannot fathom how there can be such preposterously poor keyboard support. Ugh… * Exclude _new_ objects from existing light exclusion lists – or provide a toggle so that this situation can be controlled. * If an omni light has a range set, display it's extents while moving the light (so you could easily position it to just graze a wall for example). * Additional snap options: MID of any tessellation line, NEAR to any tessellation line, Perpendicular to a tessellation line. * Enhanced on-line help to include the icons and dialog box settings. The help currently is very effective, but should just go throughout the program. * Display Delta-X and Delta-Y as you drag the tape measure icon. * Full Undo/Redo capability similar to AutoCAD (it is fabulous). 3DS should copy it! * Auto HOLD, every x minutes? Or maybe auto Save to a file called SAVMYASS.3DS every x minutes. * A text file log (scrollable ((maybe passed right into the text editor))) listing past prompt messages, so one can trace back the actions to see what was done, particularly what happened since the last time HOLD was pressed! * The ability to copy one selection set to another, so one can just add or subtract a few things, but keep the original. * Segment Extend, Segment Trim, Fillet in the Shaper. * Create/Outline in the Shaper should remember as a default the previously used outline width to aid creation of several uniform offsets. Imaging creating several wall offsets, all 8" … * Support for more input devices (like Joysticks, Cyberman mouse…) * Read and Write .DWG files. If Intergraph can do this, Autodesk products certainly should! —————— Keyframing * Allow Drawing Units formatted numbers in Key Info (i.e. feet and inches and not just decimal). * For animated light colors, show the color in Key Info, and allow its changing thru the usual color selection dialog. * Allow the printing of the object attachment tree. ——————– Rendering * Real-time shading (even flat!). I've been using this freeware 320x200x8 no antialias/no mapping real-time rendered from the Cyber Forum, just because it is so helpful/informative to fly around in a model. * Include a total time thus far for the entire animation in the rendering in progress box. * 16 bit FLCs. —————— IPAS4 I have read the text file on IPAS3. Fantastic! I would like to see the addition of some mechanism to allow command macros. ——————- Documentation * The team which writes the 3ds docs should also write the IPAS toolkit/IPAS boutique docs! * The color section of the reference manual is great. Greatly expand the artists comments on how they created their images. Not 5 lines, but several pages …Include any models you can from these images on the CD as the ones currently included are very informative. ——————– Misc nit picking * Exit the text editor back to the other 'modules' by pressing the corresponding F1-F5 function key (not just File/Exit). * Eliminate OMNI lights from lights presented by Lights/Spot/Adjust/H * All settings in 3ds.set should be configurable via dialog box. ——————– The World Conquering Implementation * 3D Studio/NT.